Nigeria Seeks Ratification of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement and Increased Funding for Blue Economy Initiatives

Strategic Insights -

Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has emphasized the importance of ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and increasing funding for blue economy initiatives. Oyetola represented President Bola Tinubu at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where he highlighted the need for collective action to protect the world's oceans for future generations. As a coastal state, Nigeria recognizes the ocean as a source of wealth, natural capital, and employment opportunities, and is committed to achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nigeria's ratification of the BBNJ Agreement is essential for achieving the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the African Union Agenda 2063.
  • The country is committed to designating at least 30% of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.
  • Nigeria has signed the BBNJ Agreement and commenced its ratification process.
  • The country is implementing domestic initiatives to strengthen its ocean governance, including the development of a national roadmap for BBNJ treaty ratification and implementation.
  • Nigeria is also addressing transboundary ocean challenges such as illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing and marine dumping.
  • The minister emphasized the need for collective commitment to robust monitoring and enforcement frameworks, and called for global cooperation and technical expertise to support blue economy initiatives.

Statistics:

  • 30%: The target for designating the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.
  • West Africa: Region where Nigeria is spearheading efforts among nations to validate a regional roadmap for the development of a proposal to designate a highly protected High Seas Marine Protected Area.
  • Nigeria: Country with a National Blue Economy Policy to incentivise sustainable diversification into ocean-based industries.
  • 2025: Year of the UN Ocean Conference themed "Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean".

Sources:

  • News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
  • The Minister's statement signed on Wednesday by his Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola